Knockdown sectional bookcase.



No. 892,997. PATENTED JULY'M, 190a. I G. P. KRO v KNOGKDOWNSECTIO BOOKGASB. 4

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII MAR. 9, 1908.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSS G. F. KROBGER. KNOGKDOWN BEGTIONAL BOOKCASE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9, 1908- PATENTED JULY 14, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE F. KROEGER, OF EVANSTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE GLOBE=-WERNIOKE COMPANY,

OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A'OORPORATION OF OHIO.

KNOCKDOWN SECTIONAL BOOKCASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 14, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. KROEGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Evanston, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knockdown Sectional Bookcases, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accom anying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to sectional bookcases and the like, of a ty e known as knockdown, wherein all 0' the component parts of the bookcase may be shipped in a knocked down condition, thereby occu ying but little space, and may be erected to orm a substantial structure, and it has for its object the provision of simple and eflicient means for securing the various parts of the structure in place, when so erected.

The novelty of my invention will be hereinafter more fully set forth and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1, Sheet 1 is a perspective view of a knockdown sectional bookcase embodying my invention, after the same has been erected. Fig. 2, Sheet 2 is a broken sectional side elevation of my invention showing its application to different depths of units or sectlons. Fig. 3, Sheet 2 is a sectional detail of the means of securing the sides to the bottom of a unit. Fig. 4, Sheet 2 is aperspective detail of the pieces used in fastening the sides to the bottom of a unit, the same being shown separated. Fig. 5, Sheet 2 is a plan view of the plate used to secure a reducing strip on the upper forward edge of a unit. Fig. 6, Sheet 2 is a broken sectional front elevation showing the means for interlocking the ends and front of the base.

The same numerals of reference are used to indicate identical parts in all the figures.

In its preferred form of construction my invention consists of the base 1, which is composed of the front piece 2, front strip 3 and ends 4. The front 2 and strip 3 are fastened together in any suitable permanent manner and to the ends of the front piece 2 are secured plates 5, and to these plates are secured hooks 6, which engage apertures in the plates 7, which last mentioned plates are fastened to the ends 4, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. Recesses 8, of a size suitable to accommodate the hooks 6, are cut into the ends 4 behinds the plates 7 and coincide with the slots therein. This arrangement and disposition of parts serves to substantially connect the front piece 2 and the end ieoes 4 in such manner that, when the weigii the case, with their contents, are superimposed thereon, it is impossible for these connections to become disengaged.

As will be observed in Fig. 2 the top strip 3 is intended as a filling piece between the front piece 2 and the bottom 9 of the next superimposed unit, the base 1 being deeper from front to back than any of its superimosed units. To prevent the end pieces 4 from lateral displacement, I provide a slat 10 of a length sufficient to extend from one end piece 4 to the other and to be fastened to each thereof by nails or any other suitable means, not shown.

I A channel, of a width equal to the width of the slat 10 and of a depth equal to half its thicknessyis out into the under side of the bottom 9 of the unit 11, this beingthe unit superimposed upon the base 1, and this channe embraces t e slat 10 and prevents the unit 11 from shifting forward or backward upon the base 1. To secure the ends 12 to the bottom 9 of the unit 11 I employ interlocking lates 13 and 14, the plates 13 being provided with tongues v15 bent at right angles as clearly shown in Fig. 4, and these tongues 15, when. the parts are in their proper positions, engage and lock in apertures 16 in the plates 14, these plates 14 being let in flush with the upper surface of the bottom 9 near the ends thereof (preferably two plates at each end) and cavities 17 are provided in the bottom under the apertures 16 in the plates 14 for the rece tion of the tongues 15 of the plates 13 as 0 early shown in Fig. 3.

The plates 13 are let in flush with the inner sides of the ends 12, and are suitably secured t of the other parts of thereto, as by screws, these plates being placed near the bottom edge of said ends as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

As shown in Fig. 3 the bottom 9 does not extend the full width of the unit but is made narrower to permit the ends 12 to extend downward and flush with the bottom surface of the bottom 9, for the purpose of presenting a smoother end surface in the finished bookcase and this lapping over of the ends 12 tends to prevent the same from war ing,

in addition to preventing these ends, om

being moved outward further than at right angles to the base 9, when the interlocking plates are engaged.

lar in all respects to the slat 10 before described. To inclose the rear of the units I provide suitable backs 18, provided with a tongue extending com letely around the edges thereof, as shown in Fig. 2, this tongue engaging grooves cut into the top and bottom surfaces of the bottom pieces and the inner surfaces of the end pieces and at the rear edges thereof, and these backs 18 when properly placed serve as a further means of maintaining the end pieces in a vertical position with relation to the bottom, as will be readily understood.

To prevent sidewise displacement of the units, when placed one upon the other, I employ the downward extension of the ends 12 in conjunction with the channel for the reception of the slat 10, and also in conjunction with the slat 10, this slat being of a length equal to the length of the bottom piece of any of the units and, as before described, be ing fastened to the top edges of any of the units. It will thus be seen that the slat 10 serves a threefold purpose; first as a binder between the end pieces of a unit, second as a means for preventing forward and backward displacement (due to its resting in the channel before described), and third as a means for preventing sidewise displacement (due to the abutting of its ends against the downward extensions of the end pieces of the units).

The unit 19, being in all respects similar to the unit 1 1 except as to its depth, and needing no detailed description, is shown superimposed upon the unit 11, it being frequently desirable to employ units of different depths in a single case, due to the different sizes of books. To accommodate the deep unit 11 to the shallow unit 19, I provide a reducing strip 20 which is attached to the upper front edges of the ends 12. To secure the strip 20 in place, I provide plates 21, one at each end of said strip, and these plates are provided with key-hole shaped apertures 22 adapted to engage the heads of round head wood screws, not shown, but which are screwed into the upper forward edges of the ends 12 and spaced the plates 21.

apart to coincide with the spacing of the keyhole shaped apertures 22 in the plates 2].. Suitable cavities, for the reception of the heads of the wood screws are provided adj a cent to the key-hole shaped apertures 22 in This last described construe tion being, in the main, like the construction of the joints between the front and ends of the base piece 1 before described, and shown in Fig. 6.

Any suitable top piece 23 may be employed to close up the opening of the top of the last unit to be superimposed upon the case and to add a finish thereto, this top piece being retained in place by the same means that retain the units in place, as will be readily understood.

For convenience in shipping and in order to minimize the amount of space required in which to pack book cases of this class, they are packed and shipped in. a knocked down condition, and upon receipt by' a purchaser they can be readily assembled. In assembling, the ends and front of the base are j oine l, as before described, and the spacing slat secured in place. This completes the base. The bottom piece of the first unit is then placed upon the base, the end pieces of this unit are then attached to said bottom, the spacing slat is then fastened to the top edges of these end pieces, and the back piece dropped into place in its grooves and, where a glass front door is employed, the door hung in lace, which completes this unit.

y proceeding as above described the number of units going to make up the case are built up to form the completed case, as will be readily understood.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim:

1. In a knockdown sectional bookcase, the combination of a one-piece bottom for each unit, end pieces for each unit, a hook carried by the lower edge of each end piece, a slotted plate carried by each end of said bottom and adapted to be engaged by the hooks on said end pieces, a back for each unit and a spacing slat connecting the upper edges of said end pieces, substantially as described.

2. In a knockdown sectional bookcase the combination of a one-piece grooved bottom for each unit, end. pieces therefor, a hook carried by each, of said end pieces at its lower edge, a plate carried by each end of said bottom and adapted to be engaged by said hooks, a depth reducing strip secured to the upper edges of said end pieces, and a spacing slat connecting the upper edges of said end pieces, substantially as described.

GEORGE F. KROEGER.

Witnesses:

A. L. Porn, Rom. F. MossMAN. 

